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VIEWS FROM A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
#42 - SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Size: 5" x 3"
Copyrighted: 1891
Lithographer: Joseph P. Knapp
Illustrations: Cathedral at San Jose; A Guide; A San Jose Girl; View of
San Jose; Street Scene
Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA. |
The Atlantic coast in
Central America is generally low,
and characterized by numerous
lagoons which have been formed by
the prevailing currents opposite
the river mouths, the chief break
in its extent being the great
Lagoon or Gulf of Chiriqui; the
Pacific coast rising higher, is
marked by the two large
peninsulas which enclose the
Gulfs of Nicoya and Dulce. The
Atlantic slope is covered with
dense impenetrable forests; the
Pacific slope, on the other hand,
has wide savannahs, bordered by
forests, and is much more
accessible. In the north a great
volcanic range extends from
northwest to southeast from
between the Nicaragua Lake and
the Pacific coast to the centre
of Costa Rica, separating the
narrow Pacific descent from the
border slope to the Atlantic. The
form of the southern half of
Costa Rica is determined by the
great range, some of whose peaks
are over 10,000 feet high. The
surface of the country is marked
by mountains, plateaus, and
valleys. The broad table lands of
San José and Cartago lie between
the northern and southern masses,
having an elevation of over 3,000
feet above sea level, and being
the most important and almost the
only cultivated region of the
country. San José is about 15
miles northwest of Cartago, (the
ancient Capital,) with which it
is connected by a railway, built
in 1884. Since 1870 the Cathedral
has been rebuilt, and handsome
market places, with offices for
the municipality erected, and
several of the streets
macadamized. The city has a
National Bank, and a University
to which a medical school and
museum are attached. As a city it
dates from the latter half of the
eighteenth century. It became the
capital after the destruction of
Cartago by earthquake in 1841. In
this plateau, the northeast trade
wind prevails from October to
April, bringing dry weather;
during the other half of the
year, the southwest monsoon
blowing from the Pacific brings
almost daily rain, except a
remarkable fortnight of dry
weather in June, called the
"Veranillo de San
Juan." The country is
exceedingly fertile, especially
in valuable timber trees and
useful dyewoods. |
Population. 18,000. |
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